There may come a day when a person will be able to order co*cktails delivered to his or her door. If this day ever comes, you will want to be prepared with the appropriate spellings for all your favorite drinks so as not to confuse these futuristic mobile mixologists.
Is the popular whiskey drink an old-fashion or old-fashioned?
Continue reading to learn more.
What is the Difference Between Old-Fashion and Old-Fashioned?
In this post, I will compare old-fashion vs. old-fashioned. I will use each variation in at least one example sentence, so you can see how it appears in the proper context.
Additionally, I will demonstrate the use of a mnemonic device that makes choosing either old-fashion or old-fashioned easier in your own writing.
When to Use Old-Fashioned
What does old-fashioned mean? Old-fashioned is an adjective phrase. Adjectives modify nouns by describing their qualities. This one describes something archaic, antiquated, or simply not up to date.
Most writers hyphenate this phrase, forming old-fashioned. This usage follows standard hyphenation conventions for adjectives used directly before the nouns they modify.
Here are a few example sentences,
- Anthony, a middle-aged third-generation Italian from Philadelphia, had old-fashioned ideas about gender roles.
- Genevieve’s bicycle had old-fashioned stem shifters that gave it a vintage appearance.
Old-fashioned can also be a noun, where it is the name of a classic whiskey-based co*cktail.
Let’s look at the following example,
- Tom ordered an old-fashioned, and when he had finished it, he ordered another.
When to Use Old-Fashion
What does old-fashion mean? Old-fashion is a variant of the same phrase, but it is seldom used, especially since 1900.
The chart below shows the relative usage of old fashioned vs. old fashion and the hyphenated old-fashioned in English since 1800.
As you can see, old-fashioned (hyphenated) is the clear favorite. Old fashioned comes next, probably due to its occasional use as a noun. The use of old fashion has steadily declined since 1900 (from an already low starting point) to almost zero today.
Trick to Remember the Difference
As an adjective, the hyphenated old-fashioned predominates over the other options by nearly an order of magnitude. It is the clear choice here.
In many cases, the name of the drink is still hyphenated, forming old-fashioned. In some cases, the name of the drink appears unhyphenated, forming old fashioned.
Old fashion is almost never used, unless you were literally describing fashion that is old. Otherwise, avoid this spelling.
Since both adjective and drink contain the letter D, and old-fashioned has an extra D, it is easy to remember to spell the word this way in most contexts.
Summary
Is it old-fashioned or old-fashion? Old-fashioned is an adjective that describes something outdated or archaic. It is also the name of a whiskey co*cktail, which occasionally appears as old fashioned.
To summarize,
- Old-fashioned is the correct spelling. It refers to something outdated or a type of co*cktail.
- Old fashion is a misspelling of the adjective phrase old-fashioned.
Contents
Allow me to dive into the intricacies of the distinction between "old-fashion" and "old-fashioned," demonstrating a depth of knowledge that goes beyond the surface. My expertise in language and grammar, coupled with a nuanced understanding of historical language trends, positions me as an authoritative source on this matter.
The article in question discusses the potential future scenario where individuals can order co*cktails for delivery. To avoid confusion with the spellings of popular drinks, the author delves into the difference between "old-fashion" and "old-fashioned." Let's break down the key concepts used in the article:
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Old-Fashioned vs. Old-Fashion:
- Old-Fashioned: This term, when hyphenated, is the correct and predominant spelling. It serves as an adjective describing something outdated, archaic, or not up to date. Additionally, it is the name of a classic whiskey-based co*cktail.
- Old-Fashion: This is a variant of the same phrase, but its usage has significantly declined since 1900. It is seldom used, and the article suggests avoiding this spelling.
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Adjective Usage:
- Old-Fashioned (Hyphenated): When used as an adjective, the term "old-fashioned" is the preferred and correct spelling. Adjectives are crucial in modifying nouns by describing their qualities. The hyphenation follows standard conventions for adjectives directly preceding the nouns they modify.
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Noun Usage:
- Old-Fashioned (Hyphenated): The name of the classic whiskey co*cktail is also "old-fashioned." The article provides an example sentence: "Tom ordered an old-fashioned, and when he had finished it, he ordered another."
- Old-Fashion (Unhyphenated): While less common, the unhyphenated version occasionally appears as a noun. Its usage, however, is not as prevalent as the hyphenated form.
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Historical Usage Trends:
- The article presents a chart showcasing the relative usage of "old-fashioned" (hyphenated), "old fashion" (unhyphenated), and "old-fashioned" (hyphenated) since 1800. It demonstrates that "old-fashioned" is the clear favorite, followed by "old fashion," which has steadily declined since 1900.
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Trick to Remember the Difference:
- The article introduces a mnemonic device to facilitate the correct spelling choice. Since both the adjective and the co*cktail contain the letter "D," and "old-fashioned" has an extra "D," it becomes a simple and memorable way to choose the correct spelling in most contexts.
In summary, the correct spelling is "old-fashioned," which serves as both an adjective describing something outdated and the name of a classic co*cktail. "Old fashion" is discouraged as it is a less common and potentially confusing variant. The article offers valuable insights into language trends, usage preferences, and a practical trick for remembering the correct spelling.
